Brewery calls time
after tax demand

Wentworth Brewery, based on the historic Wentworth Estate in Rotherham, has called time after being hit by duty and tax bills.

The independent, award-winning brewery, is being liquidated and all the equipment – in the former power house to the estate – is for sale.

Jeremy Bleazard, XL Business Solutions, was appointed liquidator.

He said: “The brewery has experienced a difficult trading period, due mainly to issues associated with meeting its duty and tax commitments. Prior to these issues the brewery had operated viably.”

Walker Singleton Chartered Surveyors were appointed to advise over the realisation of assets.

Daniel Hey, of Walker Singleton, said: “Significant investment has been committed to the installation of the brewery and bottling plant.

“The brewery has benefited from the support and association of the Wentworth Estate, not just in its name.

“As landlords, the estate has indicated a willingness to talk to prospective tenants over continued occupancy of the property which opens the opportunity for an astute buyer, recognising the current resurgence and demand for craft ales, to acquire a micro-brewery.”

Founded in 1999, it expanded from a 10- to a 30-barrel plant, making it one of the larger breweries in South Yorkshire.

It is understood that rather than concentrating on cask and sales directly to pubs, the firm had built up a national distribution network and had contracts with a number of discount retailers including B&M Bargains.

The brewery also placed bottled beers at the heart of its business plan and invested in an on-site bottling plant.

In 2013, managing director Alasdair Twist said selling bottled ale had given the brewery an important second source of income.

He said: “Our cask sales still exceed our bottled beer sales, but we recognised that demand for cask can fluctuate. We identified the bottled beer market as a way of maintaining consistent levels of production throughout the year.”